MELAKA GOVERNMENT TO COPY TRANSCRIPTS IN EUROPE

Melaka govt to copy thousands of BM transcripts in Europe

Posted on 3 January 2013 – 08:57pm

Last updated on 3 January 2013 – 09:56pm

MELAKA (Jan 3, 2013): The Melaka Government wants to collect tens of thousands of Bahasa Melayu manuscripts in Europe as sources of reference for research and development of the language through the International Malay Letters Centre of Excellence which was set up, here, today.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said, a visit would be made to the Leiden University, the premier Bahasa Melayu centre in the world and the oldest university in Holland, to seek its cooperation, on the matter.

“The maiden effort to gather copies of the manuscripts and other collections is to boost Bahasa Melayu to an era of excellence as found during the Melaka Sultanate,” he said after the launching of the centre in Air Keroh, here, today.

According to Mohd Ali, the centre which was operating on the 10th floor of the Melaka Foundation Building, and headed by a director, was also proposed as the organiser of seminars and workshops for Bahasa Melayu.

Other than Leiden, Mohd Ali said, the Melaka Government would also work with other European nations such as England and Portugal to copy the Bahasa Melayu transcripts and documents in their collections.

Meanwhile, Md Salleh, who was visiting professor at Leiden University from 2003 to 2006, said the university had almost 100,000 Bahasa Melayu manuscripts since the Dutch invaded the Malay Archipelago in the 17th century.

He said, the effort of the state government in setting up the centre of excellence, would give a positive impact in the expansion of Bahasa Melayu, and economic returns in the long run. – Bernama